Iron and accumulated energy transferring stand

Abstract

The recharging time for reheating the soleplate of an iron can considerably be reduced by accumulating energy from an energy supply, e.g. the mains, in a stand for the iron and by transferring this energy to the iron when the iron is attached to the stand. The iron is reheated very quickly, e.g. by exchanging cooled down liquid from the iron with hot liquid accumulated in the stand every time the iron is put back in the stand.

We claim: 
     
       1. An iron arrangement comprising a cordless iron and a stand, said iron having a soleplate, said stand receiving energy from an energy supply, said arrangement comprising transfer means for transferring said energy to the iron for heating said iron when the iron is attached to the stand characterized in that the stand comprises means for accumulating said energy, said transfer means transferring said accumulated energy when the iron is attached to the stand and said accumulated energy thus transferred to the iron providing a heat source in the iron sufficient to heat a portion of the iron for a substantial period subsequent to removal of the iron from the stand. 
     
     
       2. An iron arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for accumulating energy comprises a storage tank containing a liquid, said stand comprising heating means for heating the liquid in the storage tank, said iron having a soleplate and a reservoir for receiving said heated liquid from the storage tank, said heated liquid in the reservoir being in heat-conducting contact with the soleplate for heating said soleplate, both said reservoir and said storage tank comprising an inlet and an outlet tube for the liquid, the respective inlet and outlet tubes of the reservoir and the storage tank being connectable to each other when the iron is attached to the stand, said stand comprising a pump for pumping the liquid from the storage tank to the reservoir and vice versa. 
     
     
       3. An iron arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the liquid is water. 
     
     
       4. An iron arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the liquid is water. 
     
     
       5. An iron arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the liquid is glycerol. 
     
     
       6. An iron arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for accumulating energy comprises a first and a second storage chamber each containing a liquid, said stand comprising heating means for heating the liquid in either the first or the second storage chamber, said iron having a soleplate and a reservoir for receiving said heated liquid from one of the storage chambers, said heated liquid in the reservoir being in heat-conducting contact with the soleplate for heating said soleplate, said reservoir comprising an inlet and an outlet tube for the liquid, said storage chambers each having one connecting tube for the liquid, the inlet and the outlet tubes of the reservoir being connectable to the respective connecting tubes of the storage chambers when the iron is placed on the stand. 
     
     
       7. An iron arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein the liquid is water. 
     
     
       8. An iron arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein the liquid is water. 
     
     
       9. An iron arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for accumulating energy comprises a motor driven flywheel having a plurality of magnets, said iron having a magnetizable plate which is in heat-conducting contact with the soleplate, the accumulated rotational energy of the flywheel being transferred to the magnetizable plate by induction for heating the sole plate when the iron is attached to the stand. 
     
     
       10. An iron arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for accumulating energy comprises a capacitor, said cordless iron comprising a soleplate and an electric heating resistor being in thermal contact with the soleplate, the electric charge accumulated in the capacitor being transferred to the resistor through electric conductors for heating the soleplate when the iron is attached to the stand. 
     
     
       11. An iron arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, when the iron is attached to the stand, the accumulated energy is transferred to the iron for heating a steam chamber whereas the soleplate is heated by means of electric energy received directly from the electric mains via the stand.